Mk3iain

Hi David You can nominate an ATF that you chose, I suppose the nearest, and leave the time and date. The application will be looked at and they will let you know if it is OK for you to go ahead, you can then get in touch with the ATF and book. DVSA will take your test fee £113 and give you a reference number hopefully the ATF will accept this and just charge a lane fee. They may charge the test fee again but this can be claimed back from DVSA, not a good system. The 23500kg is what the roller road calculated from the measured axel weights. Iain

I'm glad it's been of some use, no point everyone struggling unnecessarily. The initial test is applied for direct to DVSA using a VTG1 and then booked at the ATF, retest and any future test will just be a call to the ATF. I found that my ATF booked about a week or so ahead. Remember you have 14 working days to retest. The Mk3 Recovery has a declared GVW of about 20t but the measured weight was 23500kg. The calculations for brake effort used the GVW so no need to add weight. A cargo truck requiring weight would be down to the owner/operator presenting the vehicle fully prepared with the weight onboard and secured. This ATF and the DVSA examiner did not have a Tapley, so no option other than the roller road. Once you know the system it's not a problem. The only hassle for me was the cost, it's £179 per full test, £73 for a retest. As I had my first test abandoned due to a stuck dif lock it was a second full test at the full charge, it soon adds up. I hope that helps. Iain

Hi Mike Every bolt or screw I have come across has been unified thread except of course pipe fittings etc which so far have been BSP. UNF for screws and bolts, UNC for studs usually. They were made during a time of change and some metric turning up would not have supprised me but it's all old school. I perticularly like unified for some reason. Ill put together a guide to how I found the "first test" procedure and relevant points and requirements. If this helps anyone that would make it worthwhile. Iain

A pic of the equipment with the truck, it also includes a straight bar, a spotlight, a spreader bar with couplings and a complete set of anchor plates and pins. If I find anything else I'll add it in. The fire extinguishers shown on the truck are from the workshop and are not included, they don't fit anyway and were held on with cable ties. Overall the truck is in good original condition and I am carrying out painting as I go. Some little jobs to do (it will never stop), I've to refit the rubber gutter between the cab and rear body and just generally fettle. I can't help it! I am after offers around £17k and will do a good deal on the spares truck if wanted. Cost of transport from Aberdeenshire is not that bad as trucks bringing agricultural machinery regularly head back south empty. I sold a trailer recently that ended up in Braintree and was carried at half price, it was the only item on the truck. Iain

After all the work on the brake system it really paid off and I should have done it anyway. A couple of brakes that had maxed at around 1100kg were up to 2200kg so quite a difference and brought them all up to the same range. So much so the tyres were skidding on the rollers at times, they are a bit big for the rollers. The problem was lack of use, quite common according to the examiners. Everything else was good so that was that, at last. Iain

Now for sale!

MOT passed so the Milly is now for sale. Iain

Looks like an Australian registered Landy so not taken from UK I would suspect. I can say from experience that you would be looking at around £2k each way including dockyard handling charges using container shipping. Not cheap. Iain

Totally agree and will do. Thank you

Exemption 2 is in fact the one I am using with the Mk3 Recovery, it seems that there are very relevant changes since this thread was raised in 2009. It helps to know the facts rather than rely on second hand info. When I get my Milly through the MOT I'll summarise all the relevant gen that I uncovered to make it easier for others. Iain

I thought I would update this old thread as requirements have changed and of interest would be item 30 on the exemption form. DVSA form 75, 2018 revision. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/754827/declare-heavy-goods-vehicle-does-not-need-tachograph.pdf "Vehicle is no longer used for the carriage of goods and is taxed as Private HGV"

What a fantastic event, would love to see more. I'll bet it is very a very social occasion as well!

Hopefully should be plenty photo opportunities...... You wont be missing our weather!

Yes, definately not a Mk3 Militant recovery, wrong crane short cab etc.. That must have taken a bit of work to prepare and how successful was it?

"What more can I do" Famous last words. I am now going around the whole brake system adjusting and generally fettling. I had a diaphragm fail on the mid axle so changed both and took out the pound or so of wet sand in each of the actuators. These are the only ones I haven't already had off so should help as the sand was stopping full movement. Also had a brake light switch start leaking and changed that. Now working on a seized adjuster on the back axle. It all should help. Iain

"What more can I do" Famous last words. I am now going around the whole brake system adjusting and generally fettling. I had a diaphragm fail on the mid axle so changed both and took out the pound or so of wet sand in each of the actuators. These are the only ones I haven't already had off so should help as the sand was stopping full movement. Also had a brake light switch start leaking and changed that. Now working on a seized adjuster on the back axle. It all should help. Iain

Very nice, almost as good as an RFSV, but I am biased....

Sadly my Milly is now Sold

That machine is way too clever....

Hi John I checked pressure at the actuator and it mirrors closely what the system gauges show, so I'm happy with that. The unloader valve I was less happy with as the pressure drops too low and struggles to come back up and then it goes to over 120 psi. Ive now changed the unloader valve for a new one I had in stock (as you do) and it maintains pressure perfectly, pressure builds faster too. Good call. Now with the liners deglazed and pressure sorted out I should be OK, but only one way to tell and that's on Friday. What more can I do.... Iain

It may be better for you if you are known by the folk at the ATF and they accept that you have paid DVSA. The application was quite straight forward. I filled in as much of the form as I could and include some pages of data and dimensional drawing from the manul. The form asks for axle loading but the manual only gives front axle and rear bogie weights but the data pages helped there. Also the truck fell into the catagory of requiring a chassis plate with axle data but never had one, that was OK. DVSA now have a technical file and use that instead of plating apparently. The tech department were available on the phone or email to help and were very good. Not such a bad process other than the billing.... Iain

Mike It was only for the application using VTG1 for first test. DVSA insist on an upfront payment, give a reference number and send you to your nominated ATF to book. The ATF then take a lane fee in addition but many don't use the reference from DVSA and also take the test fee again. After that its all direct to the ATF, no need to include DVSA. Very frustrating. Iain

Hopefully here are before and after shots of the front offside brake liners. They did look a bit polished on the surface but after a bit of time with 60grit on an da sander (with dust extraction and mask) they look much better. I do not have a trained eye and cannot be sure I've improved things. What do you folk think?

Thanks, Its what the examiner suggested, as the service brake came out as a general fail he felt improving the front brakes should be enough. looking at the test printout the measured vehicle weight is noted as 23500 kg. I take it the test machine is working this out itself, it's more that I had thought by 2500kg. Iain

Thanks John I've done the lights and general tightening and I am left with improving the brakes before next Friday. Plenty time to take the wheels and drums off and yes good idea to check the pressure at the actuators. The only thing in the front brake line is the dual foot valve so it should be simple... Ive got a manual for the Mk3 cargo and it has the data for the unloader valve etc It does not though give any torque values for suspension parts such as axle/Spring bolts. It just says tighten. Any torque values for these and any other suppension parts would be helpful, if they exist. Many thanks Iain